Table of contents for 16-Jan-2020 in Chat

Debbie’s boy had a bright future, now all she has is memories. Read about her fight for answers on p34. Gill’s parents’ extra special love story (p30) will definitely warm your heart. Lauren’s inspiring journey is a good reminder that none of us should be ashamed of our bodies (p44). We’ve got a load more gripping real life to get stuck into and cash prizes up for grabs – plus some motivation to get healthy with wholesome recipes (p40) and some stylish workout gear (p12). Enjoy!…

It took just over two hours for the Teller County jury to find Patrick Frazee, 33, guilty on all six counts – murder in the first degree, three counts of solicitation to murder, felony murder and tampering with a dead body. ‘Kelsey spent her last night caring for you and you repaid that kindness by viciously beating her to death the following day,’ Judge Scott Sells said. ‘She was a wonderful mother, a beloved daughter, sister and accomplished pilot. ‘Your crimes deserved the maximum punishment legally available in the state of Colorado and I intend to do that.’ Kelsey’s mother Cheryl Berreth said that she planned to adopt her granddaughter. ‘It’s time for our family to have closure and move on,’ she said. The judge then sentenced Frazee to life…

POLITICIAN LOCKED UP Former Tory minister Jonathan Aitken was jailed on 8 June 1999, having pleaded guilty to perjury and perverting the course of justice. An investigation found he'd allowed aides of the Saudi Royal Family to foot his £1,000 bill at the Ritz, Paris. He'd previously lied under oath, saying his wife Lolicia had paid for part of it, and used his daughter to verify his story. During the trial, it was proved his wife and daughter had been in Switzerland while he was in Paris. Aitken served seven months of an 18-month jail term. DEATH ON HER DOORSTEP On 26 April 1999, the country was shaken by the news of the death of popular TV presenter and newsreader Jill Dando (left). Jill, 37, was shot dead outside her…

1 Download a dating app to start with – then you can flirt as much as you want at home, in your nightie with a face mask on! Get used to being complimented, and chat to different people. Remember, don’t put all your eggs in one basket too soon. 2 If a dating app isn’t for you, surround yourself with friends and family. Let them take you out and about, go to a party, or try a new hobby, such as Zumba. Have fun with people you feel safe around, meet their friends and widen your social circle. You never know who you’ll meet. 3 Go at your own pace. Jump in too early and you risk plumping for the first person who pays you attention. Listen to your gut,…

As the weeks flew by, the vets couldn’t believe how well Terra responded to medication. Her sores slowly healed. Then little tufts of coarse, brown fur started to sprout on her body. ‘You look like a proper pup now,’ I giggled as she nibbled on my hand one morning. After six weeks of treatment, Terra was finding her teeth just like other dogs her age! Each morning, I’d set up for the day on reception before heading into the staff room. She was wagging her tail and shaking her new fur But after a quick chitchat, I rushed through to see the animals that were kept in overnight. Especially little Terra. She was always waiting for me, tail thumping 10 to the dozen. Vets tried to decipher what breed Terra…

E.l.f. Cosmetics Puff Puff Primer, £8 Prep your skin with this creamy formula that absorbs quickly to help soothe, hydrate and condition before your make-up application. Oh, and it’s perfect for all skin types! Olay Anti-Wrinkle Firm & Lift, £6  Banish wrinkles with this moisturiser/ primer hybrid. Containing a special blend of light-diffusing particles, it works by smoothing wrinkles and the texture of your skin. NYX Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer, £15 This is a dull skin lifesaver. The jelly formula melts into skin, so pores are made invisible and excess oil vanishes. And it creates an ultra fresh glow too.…

Claire Thomas, 41, Port Talbot Handing over a forged sick note, I didn’t dare look the teacher in the eye. As he nodded, a wave of relief flooded through me. I’d got away with it again. No PE for me today! Bigger than the other girls in my class, I’d struggled with my weight for as long as I could remember. All through school, puppy fat bulked me. I did my best to dodge PE whenever I could, crying off with period pains or sprained ankles. By the time I was 20, I was a size 14, weighed 12st 7lb. Believe me, as I was only 5ft 4in, it showed! In summer 1998, I was introduced to Mark, 31, a guitarist, through a relative. We shared a common love of…

What’s caused my lashes to go? Q My eyelashes are disappearing and I look weird! What’s made them vanish? June, Salford A The most likely cause is a bacterial infection of your eyelids, particularly if you have other symptoms such as red, itchy or scaly lids. Excess plucking or rubbing can also lead to permanent eyelash loss, and skin diseases such as eczema or alopecia areata (bald patches that can occur anywhere on the body) are other possibilities. A blood test from your doctor can rule out rarer causes such as vitamin deficiency or an underactive thyroid gland, but sometimes we just can’t pinpoint a cause. Treatment might mean antibiotic ointment for infection, treatment for skin disease, hair-growth lotions or even tattooing or false eyelashes. It’s also important to leave…

3 ways to... save money by being mindful about your spending 1 Be more aware Keep a spending diary; this will increase your awareness of how much you're shelling out each day and may make you reconsider your purchases. Try the ‘no spend challenge' once or twice a week where you aim to not spend a thing all day. You may be amazed by how the savings add up. 2 Beat shops at their own game  Retailers spend a fortune trying to get us to buy more, so it's easy to be convinced you ‘need' an item. Think, ‘Do I really need this?' before purchasing anything you hadn't set out to buy, whether it's a discounted dress or an offer on groceries. Asking yourself this may make you less…

EastEnders Phil’s big fears! Phil is pleased when Dennis ignores Sharon after all that’s gone on, but when he spots the police outside the Taylors, he begins to worry. As the police question Karen about Keanu, she’s quick to play things down. Rainie makes it her mission to get Callum dating and makes sure Ben overhears her plan. Coronation Street Is Yasmeen an alcoholic? After Cathy witnesses Geoff being nasty to Yasmeen, Geoff tells Brian it was because Yasmeen has a drink problem! Geoff covers his tracks, and recovering alcoholic Peter turns up to talk to Yasmeen. Alya refuses to believe it’s true, but will Yasmeen begin to wonder if Geoff could be right? Emmerdale Jai is led into temptation Not that long ago, Jai took offence when Laurel accused…

Q How do I get glowy skin without it looking greasy? Katie Topps, 54 A You want to start with your skincare, so use a moisturiser that’s non-greasy. The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors, £4.90, is our fave. The oil-free formula hydrates skin but doesn’t leave it looking greasy, and it can also double up as your primer. Next, it’s all about choosing a foundation with a radiant finish. L’Oreal Infallible Pro-glow, £11.99, boosts dull, dry complexions while providing long-wear hydration, meaning there’s no caking. Add a little of The Body Shop Drops of Glow, £12, to your cheekbones or anywhere the light naturally falls to give your skin a beautiful sheen. Got a beauty question? Send your problems to chat_magazine@ti-media.com TOP TIP Add white eyeliner to your waterline to brighten…

Dear Oliver, The day will come when you look around you, at your school sports day or your birthday party, and realise the other children have something you don’t. A daddy. Instead, it will just be me cheering you on and helping you blow out your candles. And that’s something I need to explain. I’ve wanted you for such a long time. Ever since I watched your aunties – my younger sisters Kathryn, 36, and Simone, 31 – have babies of their own. Only, I struggled to find the right man to be your daddy. Travelling the world in my 20s and 30s, I met some wonderful men. Even fell in love. But for one reason or another, things didn’t last. And when I started online dating in my 30s,…

Samantha Dawson, 32, Blackpool I shot up from the sofa as soon as I heard the front door. I’d been waiting for my half-brother, Stephen Waterson, then 17, to arrive from London. It was summer 2010 and we hadn’t seen each other for 13 years. Stephen was born when I was 6, and I’d doted on him. A real-life dolly for nonstop cuddles! But our home life wasn’t happy. We ended up in and out of care. When Stephen turned 3, he was adopted and we lost touch completely. Until, out of the blue, he’d found me on Facebook. Throwing open the door, I was waiting for an emotional reunion. Instead… ‘All right,’ he scowled, pushing past me, plonking himself on the sofa. ‘Sorry to ask, Sis, but I need…

Pushing a trolley through the aisles, Kelsey Berreth, 29, balanced her 1-year-old girl on her hip. Kelsey chatted to the supermarket cashier, smiled and left the store. That chirpy nature was typical of Kelsey. The doting mother was also a skilled pilot and a caring partner, too. The night before, she’d driven her fiance Patrick Frazee into town to get medication, and spent the rest of the evening searching online for ways to help his stomach ulcers. But Kelsey’s trip to the supermarket on 22 November 2018 was the last time she was seen in public. Toothbrush untouched I won’t be in work for the next week, said texts from Kelsey’s phone, sent to her boss the following day. She also sent one to Patrick, who was caring for the…

Alicia Coghlan, 40, Hertford Leaning over Jackson’s crib, I tried everything to make him smile. Sang songs, pulled funny faces. ‘Look at Mummy,’ I cooed. But, still, my 6-week-old baby boy didn’t turn in my direction. I’d noticed that other babies his age were much more responsive. Not my Jackson. ‘It’s like he doesn’t see us,’ I worried to my husband Kevin, then 31. ‘He’ll be OK,’ he smiled. I wasn’t convinced. So, at Jackson’s checkup in May 2008, I asked the GP to look at his eyes. When she did, her face fell and she referred us to a specialist. ‘Jackson has scarring on both retinas,’ the specialist explained after an examination. He wasn’t sure what that meant for our boy. So, he told us to get an appointment…

Lee Kennedy, 40, Derry Sitting opposite my beautiful wife Lesley, 32, in January 2015, I felt so lucky. With her staple bright-red lipstick, she always looked incredible. As we had lunch in a local restaurant, we chatted away about work and our three sons. But then she met my eye with a strange look. ‘It’s cancer,’ she said. I almost spat out my drink. Lesley had told me she’d found a lump in her left breast and gone for a scan. But you never think cancer is going to happen to your loved ones. Especially Lesley. Ever since we’d first met on her 18th birthday, she’d lived by a saying… Get up, dress up, and never ever give up. She never left the house without a layer of lippy and…

He wants a baby with someone else! Q I can’t have children after having womb cancer in my 20s. When I first met my partner, 37, he was OK with it, even suggesting that we could adopt in the future. Now he’s changed his mind and wants a biological child with someone else. Reckons he wants a son to carry on the family name. He says he still wants to be with me, but just visit her and his son. If I don’t agree, I’ll lose him. What can I do? Lisa, 35 A You’re in a difficult situation, sweetheart. I can completely understand why you’re upset. Does your partner want to use a surrogate, or egg donation, or something else? Couples’ counselling may do you both good. The only…

Jess DeFreitas, 21, Crawley As her tail wagged wildly and her bark bounced between the walls, it was clear that Terra was happy to see me. ‘How are you doing today, little one?’ I cooed as I carefully stroked her head. This adorable puppy was only eight weeks old. As tiny as a tin of beans. But she hadn’t had the best start in life, poor thing. A week earlier, in June 2019, she’d been brought to the vet’s by the RSPCA. Oh, she was in a state! I work on reception at the vet’s in Horsham. Have done for two years. Although I love all the animals, I’d taken a shine to tiny Terra. Her body had been ravaged by mange, a skin disease caused by parasitic mites. With…

Chickpea burgers with carrot slaw  Load these up with all your favourite burger toppings SERVES 4 PREP TIME 20 MINS COOK TIME 30 MINS • 500g butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and sliced • 400g can chickpeas, drained • 100g breadcrumbs • 2tsp ground cumin • 1tbsp ground coriander • 1 egg, lightly beaten • 4tbsp plain flour • 2tbsp sesame seeds • 2tbsp olive oil • Red cabbage, shredded • 2 carrots, shredded • 7.5cm piece cucumber, shredded • Juice of 1 orange • 4 multigrain rolls • 200g tub houmous • Handful salad leaves 1 Put the squash in a bowl with 3tbsp water. Microwave on high for 6-8 mins until tender. Stand for 2 mins, then drain. 2 Blend the chickpeas and squash in a food processor. Season,…

Aries 21 March-20 April Love will be like a moth to a flame for you this week, Aries. A romantic encounter may bring you the surprise of your life. It’s time to seek new experiences. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Hold on to your hat this week. The weather won’t dampen your spirits, and a chance meeting will prove beneficial. An alternative will be offered at work. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June A spotlight will shine on your finances, Gemini, so have a good look at what is lit up. Take care if you’re being spontaneous - so you don’t break the bank. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Your opinions matter this…

Barry M That’s Swell! XXL Extreme Lip Plumper, £4.99 For fuller, plumper lips, this needs to be your go-to. The non-sticky formula stimulates the skin’s natural collagen for a softer, toned pout. Lacura Pink Clay Hot Cloth Cleanser, £3.99 A 3-in-1 cleanser that removes make-up, gently cleanses and exfoliates. Skin is left feeling soft and looking healthy thanks to cocoa butter, pink clay, Australian Kakadu plum and extracts of bamboo, macadamia, mangosteen and pomegranate. Suitable for all skin types. Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid foundation, £8.99 This silky foundation is enriched with hyaluronic acid and collagen, which provides radiant coverage and hydration for 12 hours. Rimmel Scandaleyes Volume On Demand Mascara, £7.99 If you love volume, then you’ll want to try this. The creamy new formula stays clump-free, keeping lashes smooth…